Breathing apparatus canister



Nov. 21, 1967 .w. G. MAIWALD 3,353,702

BREATHING APPARATUS CANISTER Filed Oct. 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W/ INVENTOR. v

74 TER 6. mazcfalzq Nov. 21, 1967 w. G. MAIWALD 3,353,702

BREATHING APPARATUS CANI STER Filed Oct. 8, 1965 2 SheetsSheet 2 w/ I NVEN TOR.

QLT'EE GI (76100210.

4 rroex United States Patent Claims. (61. 220-15 This invention relates to canisters for breathing appara-tus.

Canisters for breathing apparatus frequently become quite hot in use, particularly those for self-contained breathing apparatus wherein the chemical fill reacts with the exhaled breath of the user to generate oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, e.g., canisters filled with an alkali metal superoxide such as potassium superoxide, K0 In order to protect the user from discomfort and from being burned, it has been customary to provide a layer of insulation between the canister and the wearer, either as part of the apparatus in which the canister is used or on the canister itself. Prior to this invention, canisters have been provided with an outer wall spaced from the canister wall by a corrugated sheet or the like, which results in an increased canister size, requiring a correspondingly large container to hold the canister. In Well known escape apparatus, wherein the entire apparatus including canister, breathing bag, breathing tube and mouthpiece are stored in a container when not in use, it is especially desirable to make the container for the apparatus as small and convenient as possible.

In accordance with this invention, the canister is provided with a flexible wall, suitably fabric such as canvas, spaced from the canister by a spring plate secured to the canister. In use, the flexible wall spaces the canister from the wearer and provides a chimney effect permitting air to rise along the canister thereby cooling it. The flexible wall is collapsible against the canister by flexing the spring plates against the canister, so that it takes no significant space when stored in a container.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred canister of this invention in an operative state;

FIG. 2 is a side plan View of the canister of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the canishter of FIG. 1 stored in a container.

Referring now to the drawings, the canister 4, has an outlet 5 for connection to a breathing tube, not shown, and an outlet 6 for connection to a breathing bag, not shown. Two rectangular spring plates or spring leaves 7 and 8 are fastened at their middle portion to the middle 3,353,702 Patented Nov. 21, 1967 portion of the curved sidewalls of the canister, suitably by solder or adhesive. Tubular fabric 9 surrounds the canister, overlying the spring plates and secured thereto by rivets 10. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the portions 11 and 12 of the fabric are of such length that they are held taut and spaced from the canister by the slightly flexed spring plates. When the canister is packed in its conta iner 13, which in cross-section is only slightly larger than the canister, as shown in FIG. 3, the spring plates are pressed against the canister and the portion of the fabric 11 and 12 form folds 14 and 15.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have explained the principle and mode of practice of my invention and have described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifi cally described.

I claim:

1. A canister having opposed sidewalls, a spring leaf secured to each said sidewall, each said spring leaf having a free end extending in the same direction from the canister and normally spaced therefrom, a sheet of flexible material connected between said free ends, said spring leaves normally maintaining said sheet taut and spaced from said canister.

2. A canister having opposed curved sidewalls, a spring leaf secured at its middle portion to the middle portion of each said sidewall, each said spring leaf having two free ends normally spaced from said canister, and a sheet of flexible material connected between each pair of opposed free ends, said spring leaves normally maintaining said sheet taut and spaced from said canister.

3. A generally oval canister having opposed curved sidewalls and opposed substantially flat sidewalls, a spring leaf secured at its middle portion to the middle portion of each said curved sidewall, each spring leaf having two free ends normally extending beyond and spaced from said flat sidewalls, a tube of flexible material overlying and secured to said spring leaves, the circumference of said tube being larger than the periphery of said canister, said spring leaves normally maintaining said tube taut and spaced from said flat sidewalls.

4. A canister according to claim 3 in which the flexible material is a fabric.

5. A canister according to claim 3 in which the flexible material is secured to the spring leaves by rivets.

No references cited.

JOSEPH SCOVRONEK, Primary Examiner. JAMES H. TAYMAN, JR., Examiner. 

1. A CANISTER HAVING OPPOSED SIDEWALLS, A SPRING LEAF SECURED TO EACH SAID SIDEWALL, EACH SAID SPRING LEAF HAVING A FREE END EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION FROM THE CANISTER AND NORMALLY SPACED THEREFROM, A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FREE ENDS, SAID SPRING LEAVES NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID SHEET TAUT AND SPACED FROM SAID CARRIER. 